[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17099-17101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8794]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300631; FRL-5779-2]
RIN 2070-AB78


Hexythiazox; Extension of Tolerance for Emergency Exemptions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule extends a time-limited tolerance for residues of the 
insecticide hexythiazox and its metabolites in or on cotton, undelinted 
seed at 0.1 part per million (ppm), and cotton gin byproducts at 2.0 
ppm for an additional one-year period, to October 1, 1999. This action 
is in response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under 
section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
authorizing use of the pesticide on cotton. Section 408(l)(6) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish 
a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a 
tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from 
the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA 
under section 18 of FIFRA.

DATES: This regulation becomes effective April 8, 1998. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received by EPA, on or before June 8, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the 
docket control number, OPP-300631, must be submitted to: Hearing Clerk 
(1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Fees accompanying objections and hearing requests 
shall be labeled ``Tolerance Petition Fees'' and forwarded to: EPA 
Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees), P.O. 
Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. A copy of any objections and hearing 
requests filed with the Hearing Clerk identified by the docket control 
number, OPP-300631, must also be submitted to: Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring a copy of 
objections and hearing requests to Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.
    A copy of objections and hearing requests filed with the Hearing 
Clerk may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail 
(e-mail) to: [email protected]. Follow the instructions in 
Unit II. of this preamble. No Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
should be submitted through e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: David Deegan, Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington,

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DC 20460. Office location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Rm. 
280, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 308-
9358; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued a final rule, published in the 
Federal Register of November 26, 1997 (62 FR 62986) (FRL 5750-9), which 
announced that on its own initiative and under section 408(e) of the 
FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(e) and (l)(6), it established a time-limited 
tolerance for the residues of hexythiazox and its metabolites in or on 
cotton, undelinted seed at 0.1 ppm, and on cotton gin byproducts at 2.0 
ppm, with an expiration date of October 1, 1998. EPA established the 
tolerance because section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA requires EPA to 
establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement 
for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will 
result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted 
by EPA under section 18 of FIFRA. Such tolerances can be established 
without providing notice or period for public comment.
    EPA received a request to extend the use of hexythiazox on cotton 
for this year's growing season due to continued pressure faced by 
California cotton growers to various species of spider mites. Spider 
mites populations increase when wet conditions create a favorable 
environment for the pest. California is experiencing wetter-than-usual 
weather this year, due to ``el nino'' storms. It is further documented 
that spider mites have developed resistance to the two primary 
registered alternative products which are available to California 
cotton growers. Therefore, EPA has concluded that the situation is 
urgent and non-routine, and EPA has authorized the emergency use of 
hexythiazox on up to 300,000 acres of cotton in California. After 
having reviewed the submission, EPA concurs that emergency conditions 
exist for this state. EPA has authorized under FIFRA section 18 the use 
of hexythiazox on cotton for control of spider mites in cotton.
    EPA assessed the potential risks presented by residues of 
hexythiazox in or on cotton. In doing so, EPA considered the new safety 
standard in FFDCA section 408(b)(2), and decided that the necessary 
tolerance under FFDCA section 408(l)(6) would be consistent with the 
new safety standard and with FIFRA section 18. The data and other 
relevant material have been evaluated and discussed in the final rule 
published in the Federal Register of November 26, 1997 (62 FR 62986) 
(FRL 5750-9). Based on that data and information considered, the Agency 
reaffirms that extension of the time-limited tolerance will continue to 
meet the requirements of section 408(l)(6). Therefore, the time-limited 
tolerance is extended for an additional one-year period. Although this 
tolerance will expire and is revoked on October 1, 1999, under FFDCA 
section 408(l)(5), residues of the pesticide not in excess of the 
amounts specified in the tolerance remaining in or on cotton after that 
date will not be unlawful, provided the pesticide is applied in a 
manner that was lawful under FIFRA and the application occurred prior 
to the revocation of the tolerance. EPA will take action to revoke this 
tolerance earlier if any experience with, scientific data on, or other 
relevant information on this pesticide indicate that the residues are 
not safe.

I. Objections and Hearing Requests

     The new FFDCA section 408(g) provides essentially the same process 
for persons to ``object'' to a tolerance regulation issued by EPA under 
new section 408(e) and (l)(6) as was provided in the old section 408 
and in section 409. However, the period for filing objections is 60 
days, rather than 30 days. EPA currently has procedural regulations 
which govern the submission of objections and hearing requests. These 
regulations will require some modification to reflect the new law. 
However, until those modifications can be made, EPA will continue to 
use those procedural regulations with appropriate adjustments to 
reflect the new law.
    Any person may, by June 8, 1998, file written objections to any 
aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those 
objections. Objections and hearing requests must be filed with the 
Hearing Clerk, at the address given above (40 CFR 178.20). A copy of 
the objections and/or hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk 
should be submitted to the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The 
objections submitted must specify the provisions of the regulation 
deemed objectionable and the grounds for the objections (40 CFR 
178.25). Each objection must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40 
CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is requested, the objections must include a 
statement of the factual issues on which a hearing is requested, the 
requestor's contentions on such issues, and a summary of any evidence 
relied upon by the requestor (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing 
will be granted if the Administrator determines that the material 
submitted shows the following: There is genuine and substantial issue 
of fact; there is a reasonable possibility that available evidence 
identified by the requestor would, if established, resolve one or more 
of such issues in favor of the requestor, taking into account 
uncontested claims or facts to the contrary; and resolution of the 
factual issues in the manner sought by the requestor would be adequate 
to justify the action requested (40 CFR 178.32). Information submitted 
in connection with an objection or hearing request may be claimed 
confidential by marking any part or all of that information as CBI. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the information that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice.

II. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

    The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, 
EPA will transfer any copies of objections and hearing requests 
received electronically into printed, paper form as they are received 
and will place the paper copies in the official rulemaking record which 
will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The 
official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the 
Virginia address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
    Electronic comments may be sent directly to EPA at:
[email protected].


    Electronic objections and hearing requests must be submitted as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Objections and hearing requests will also be accepted on 
disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. All copies of 
objections and hearing requests in electronic form must be identified 
by the docket control number OPP-300631. No CBI should be submitted 
through e-mail. Electronic copies of objections and hearing requests on 
this rule may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

III. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

    This final rule extends a time-limited tolerancethat was previously 
extended by EPA under FFDCA section 408(d) in response to a petition 
submitted to the

[[Page 17101]]

Agency. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these 
types of actions from review under Executive Order 12866, entitled 
Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). In 
addition, this final rule does not contain any information collections 
subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable duty or contain any 
unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). Nor does it require any 
prior consultation as specified by Executive Order 12875, entitled 
Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership (58 FR 58093, October 28, 
1993), or special considerations as required by Executive Order 12898, 
entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 
Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994), 
or require OMB review in accordance with Executive Order 13045, 
entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and 
Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).
    Since this extension of an existing time-limited tolerance does not 
require the issuance of a proposed rule, the requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. 
Nevertheless, the Agency has previously assessed whether establishing 
tolerances, exemptions from tolerances, raising tolerance levels or 
expanding exemptions might adversely impact small entities and 
concluded, as a generic matter, that there is no adverse economic 
impact. The factual basis for the Agency's generic certification for 
tolerance actions published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950), and was 
provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration.

IV. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of this rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 23, 1998.

James Jones,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as 
follows:
    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 371.

Sec. 180.448  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 180.448, by amending paragraph (b) by changing the date 
``10/1/98'' to read ``10/1/99'' wherever it appears.

[FR Doc. 98-8794 Filed 4-7-98 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F